Stan Harris Joins MiMedx Group as Vice President, Clinical Operations

Former Senior Director, Clinical Affairs of Integra Life Sciences

Life Science Partner recruited Stan Harris, a seasoned regulatory and clinical affairs executive, to become Vice President, Clinical Operations for MiMedx Group.

The Company’s biomaterial platform technologies include the device technologies HydroFix® and CollaFix™ and the tissue technologies AmnioFix® and EpiFix®.

In his new role, Harris will report to the Chief Medical Officer and be responsible for all phases of the Company’s clinical research studies.  He will manage a team developing trials and supportive data for the wound healing, orthopedic/spine and cardiac indications.

Prior to his new position at MiMedx, Harris spent over 28 years managing clinical and regulatory affairs for companies such as Integra Life Sciences, Ascension Orthopedics, Wright Medical, Boston Scientific, Novoste, and Cryolife.

Harris earned a Bachelor of Degree in Biology from Mercer University.

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Courtney Barton Joins Allergan – Director, Corporate Compliance

Former Director, Corporate Compliance & Global Data Privacy at Bausch & Lomb

Life Science Partner recruited Courtney Barton, an experienced global compliance executive, to become Director, Corporate Compliance for Allergan Medical.

In her new role, Barton will be responsible for leading compliance with CIA directives and developing Allergan’s compliance policies for the $1.4B medical device businesses.  Barton will report to the Vice President and Deputy Director Wes Porter.  Porter was recruited by Life Science Partner to Allergan in 2012.

Prior to her new position at Allergan, Barton spent much of her career at Bausch & Lomb where she played a key role in building and maintaining the Company’s current Compliance Program.

Barton earned Bachelor of Arts in International Relations and Political Science from Syracuse University.

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Bill Murray Joins MDIC as Chief Executive Officer

Former President and CEO of ReShape Medical

Life Science Partner recruited Bill Murray, to become the President and Chief Executive Officer for the Medical Device Innovation Consortium (MDIC), the first-ever public-private partnership created to advance medical device regulatory science and technology environment.

Murray has over 25 years of senior leadership experience spanning the range of privately financed start-up to billion dollar plus global businesses. Murray’s small company experience spans 5 years as CEO and executive consultant, including 3 years as CEO of ReShape Medical. His large company experience includes leadership as the Molecular Biology Division President of Applied Biosystems, and at Medtronic where he spent nearly 20 years in various senior leadership positions, including President of the Pacemaker Business.

Murray has also served as interim President and CEO of MTS Systems (MTSC) a public $500M industrial technology company. He currently serves on the Boards of MDIC, ILT, Sonex Health and Meso-FLow and previously served on the Boards of MTS Systems, LifeSync Holdings, and ReShape Medical.

Murray earned his Bachelor of Science Degree in Electrical Engineering from the University of Florida.

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Dan Merz Joins St. Jude Medical as Director, Clinical Affairs

ATLANTA, Georgia – March 14 2013

Life Science Partner announces the recruitment of Dan Merz to become Director, Clinical Affairs for St. Jude Medical. Merz is an innovative engineer who has created teams and processes to improve the speed of clinical development and product approval in the US and Japan.

Merz’s leadership capabilities will serve him well in his new role as Director, Clinical Affairs at St. Jude Medical, where he will have the responsibility for clinical trial monitoring, budget and clinical trial agreement process, as well as the responsibility for directly leading the teams accountable for the clinical program activities for the Portico TVH valve studies.

In his most recent role, Merz served as Director, Clinical and Regulatory Affairs for American Medical Systems (AMS) where he led the organizational redesign of AMS clinical research executive teams to align with Endo Pharmaceuticals. Since the realignment of the clinical organizations, Merz launched 292 patient randomized trials in Europe with 30 sites involving 11 nations.

“Merz is an articulate leader who has motivated teams to overcome regulatory hurdles and as to provide new tools for physicians to treat their patients,” noted Tom Callaway, MD, founder of Life Science Partner. “He has successfully built and led clinical organizations to move an innovative technology to the market.”

Merz earned his Bachelor of Science Degree in Biomedical Engineering at Northwestern University.

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Life Science Partner is a specialized executive search firm that recruits transformational leaders for healthcare and life sciences companies. Our high-touch, partner-led process ensures an exceptional level of service, while our backgrounds as physicians and industry executives enable us to efficiently deliver the brightest candidates in the medical device, biopharmaceuticals, diagnostics, and healthcare technology fields.

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Saty Seshan Joins Immucor as Senior Director, Software Engineering

Former Director, Software Engineering at GE Healthcare

Life Science Partner recruited Saty Seshan, MS, a seasoned software development executive, to become Senior Director, Software Engineering for Immucor.

Immucor is a global in vitro diagnostics company and a world-class leader in the development, manufacturing, and sale of products used by hospital blood banks, clinical laboratories and blood donor centers.

Seshan will serve as the leader of Immucor’s Software Engineering team and report to the Chief Scientific Officer, Vice President, Research and Development.  Seshan will be responsible for driving the development and managing the execution of high quality, integrated cross-functional plans for software projects.

During his tenure at GE Healthcare, Seshan was responsible for managing a global software organization of 100 engineers.  He was in charge of the vision, strategy, technical direction, team development, execution, and financials of the software business.  “Seshan is an enthusiastic, high-energy individual who has the ability to motivate others to accomplish their critical tasks,” stated Tom Callaway, MD, President of Life Science Partner.  “He is a leader, having built a global team that integrates complex units to provide increasing clinical utility and lower cost for imaging solutions.”

Seshan earned a Bachelor of Engineering Degree in Electrical and Electronics Engineering from the M.K. University in Karaikudi, India.  Additionally, he received his Master of Science degree in Electrical Engineering from the University of Alabama.

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Tom Hochuli Joins MiMedx Group as Vice President, Manufacturing

Life Science Partner recruits former Vice President, Biomaterials Manufacturing, of Integra Life Sciences, Inc.

MiMedx Group develops, manufactures and markets regenerative biomaterials and bioimplant processed tissue. With its acquisition of Surgical Biologics, the leading supplier of amniotic tissue, MiMedx has supplied over 90,000 implants to date to distributors and OEMS for application in the Ophthalmic, Orthopedics, Spine, Wound Care and Dental sectors of healthcare.

Two of the Company’s key tissue-derived products are experiencing significant market expansion – AminoFix and EpiFix.  AminoFix provides a solution for in vivo wound covering to reduce scar tissue formation and attachment.

The EpiFix solution provides improved outcomes for patients with full or partial chronic wounds such as diabetic ulcers, pressure ulcers, vein circulation ulcers and artery circulation ulcers that fail to heal in a typical conservative care regimen.

Tom Hochuli, a seasoned biomaterials manufacturing and operations executive, has joined the MiMedx Group as Vice President, Manufacturing.  In this role, he will lead a team to process approximately 900 donated tissues per quarter.  Hochuli will be responsible for planning, creating and executing a rapid expansion of the manufacturing facility due to the company’s increasing sales growth.

In his previous role at Integra Life Sciences, Inc., Hochuli was responsible for biomaterials manufacturing within the Global Operations Division.  He led the flagship manufacturing plant through major initiatives to improve quality systems and increase compliance with ISO and FDA regulations.

“Tom is a solid leader with a track record of increasing numbers of employees and facilities under his responsibility,” noted Tom Callaway, MD, founder and president of Life Science Partner.  “He has accountability and his personality style will be a great fit with the camaraderie of the MiMedx Group.”

Hochuli earned his Bachelor of Science degree in Electrical and Computer Engineering from Clarkston University and earned his MBA at Rutgers University in New Brunswick, NJ.

About Life Science Partner

Life Science Partner’s high-quality executive, research and professional placement services target the very specific needs of life sciences and healthcare organizations. We identify and recruit the brightest talent in the biotechnology, pharmaceutical, medical device, academic and healthcare services fields.  Our combined scientific backgrounds and senior management experience give us the scientific literacy and business knowledge to help us better understand challenges, refine requirements and work more effectively with our life science clients.

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Erik Greenfield Joins Immucor as Senior Director, Program Management

Life Science Partner recruits former Senior Manager, Assistant Director Program Management for Life Technologies

Life Science Partner announces the recruitment of Erik Greenfield, a Six Sigma Black Belt engineer, to Immucor to become Senior Director, Program Management for the company.

Immucor is a global in vitro diagnostics company specializing in the area of pre-transfusion diagnostics. The Company is the global leader in the development, manufacture, and sale of products used by hospital blood banks, clinical laboratories, and blood donor centers to detect and identify certain properties of human blood prior to patient transfusion.

“Greenfield has an engineer’s perspective on program management and is an experienced strategist who transforms strategic plans into workable solutions and benchmarks performance against key operational goals.” noted Tom Callaway, MD, founder and president of Life Science Partner.  “His high energy and do-it-yourself attitude will fit well with the entrepreneurial environment at Immucor.”

At Life Technologies, he was responsible for coordinating and managing the overall project schedules worldwide for the molecular and cell biology groups.  He drove new product commercialization timelines and budgets for all aspects of product development from concept to project closure.  Previously, Greenfield served as Manager, Business Development & Integration Projects (M&A), at PerkinElmer – Life & Analytical Sciences.

Greenfield received his Bachelor of Science Degree in Electrical and Computer Engineering from Ohio University in Athens, OH.  He earned his Masters in Biomedical Engineering from George Washington University.  Greenfield is Six Sigma Black Belt certified.

About Life Science Partner

Life Science Partner’s high-quality executive, research and professional placement services target the very specific needs of life sciences and healthcare organizations. We identify and recruit the brightest talent in the biotechnology, pharmaceutical, medical device, academic and healthcare services fields.  Our combined scientific backgrounds and senior management experience give us the scientific literacy and business knowledge to help us better understand challenges, refine requirements and work more effectively with our life science clients.

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Richard Pellegrino Joins K2M Inc. as Vice President, Advanced Technology Development

Life Science Partner recruits former Vice President, Research and Development of Relievant Medsystems

Life Science Partner announces the recruitment of Richard (Rick) Pellegrino to become Vice President of Advanced Technology Development for K2M.

Richard Pellegrino K2M VP

“Pellegrino is technically sound, an excellent manager, and a scrappy entrepreneurial inventor,” noted Tom Callaway, MD, Founder and President of Life Science Partner.  “He is passionate and articulate about platform technologies and their applications.”

Welch Carson has recently acquired K2M, an innovative spinal device company committed to the research, development, and commercialization of solutions for the treatment of spinal pathologies and procedures.

In his new role at K2M, Pellegrino will lead a team of engineers for developing new spinal technologies in-house.  He will also be working with spine surgeons to build customized products for specific needs.

Pellegrino was the inventor of the core technology of Relievant Medsystems, a company that specializes in developing technology targeting the source of chronic low back pain. In this role, Pellegrino was responsible for all facets of research, product design, engineering, and clinical development and recruited a world-class scientific advisory board.

Previously Pellegrino served as Staff Researcher and Development Engineer in three Johnson & Johnson companies; DePuy Spine, Ethicon, and Cordis.

Pellegrino earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Mechanical Engineering Technology from Wentworth Institute of Technology in Boston, Massachusetts.  He also earned his associates degree in Applied Science and Mechanical Design from Wentworth Institute of Technology.

About Life Science Partner

Life Science Partner’s high-quality executive, research and professional placement services target the very specific needs of life sciences and healthcare organizations. We identify and recruit the brightest talent in the biotechnology, pharmaceutical, medical device, academic and healthcare services fields.  Our combined scientific backgrounds and senior management experience give us the scientific literacy and business knowledge to help us better understand challenges, refine requirements and work more effectively with our life science clients.

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Tina Webb Joins Allergan as Director, Business Compliance, Pharmaceuticals

Life Science Partner recruits former Associate Director, US Pharmaceuticals Compliance and Ethics for Bristol-Myers Squibb

Allergan, Inc. is a technology-driven, multi-specialty health care company that discovers, develops and commercializes innovative pharmaceuticals, biologics and medical devices in the areas of eye care, neurosciences, medical dermatology and urologics. The company is best known for its Botox franchise.

Tina Webb, an experienced pharmaceutical compliance executive, has joined Allergan as the Director of Business Compliance, Pharmaceuticals. 

In this role, she will be responsible for providing advice and leading efforts regarding Allergan’s compliance policies and procedures for the pharmaceutical business within the United States.  She will work with the sales force to build communication strategies and messages that are effective but consistent with the product’s approved uses – and create solutions that enhance physician customer relations with the CIA guidelines.

In her previous role at Bristol-Myers Squibb, Webb was responsible for developing, overseeing and maintaining the Company’s US Compliance and Ethics program.  She successfully brought automation and systemization of the compliance program that allowed the sales and marketing organization to function more effectively while in compliance.

“Tina has an analytical and legal approach to compliance combined with a sales-oriented personality,” noted Tom Callaway, MD, founder and president of Life Science Partner.  “Her broad experience in creating and implementing compliance programs for US Sales and Marketing organizations will be a great asset for the Allergan Compliance team.”

Webb earned her degree from Rutgers University in New Brunswick, NJ.

About Life Science Partner

Life Science Partner’s high-quality executive, research and professional placement services target the very specific needs of life sciences and healthcare organizations. We identify and recruit the brightest talent in the biotechnology, pharmaceutical, medical device, academic and healthcare services fields.  Our combined scientific backgrounds and senior management experience give us the scientific literacy and business knowledge to help us better understand challenges, refine requirements and work more effectively with our life science clients.

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Wes Porter Joins Allergan as Vice President, Deputy Compliance Officer

Life Science Partner recruits Vice President of Ethics and Compliance at CareFusion

Life Science Partner announces the recruitment of Wes Porter, a senior compliance executive and attorney, to become Vice President, Deputy Compliance Officer at Allergan Inc. 

Best known for its Botox franchise, Allergan is a technology-driven, multi-specialty health care company that discovers, develops and commercializes innovative pharmaceuticals, biologics and medical devices in the areas of eye care, neurosciences, medical dermatology and urologics.

In Porter’s previous role at CareFusion, a leading global medical technology company headquartered in San Diego, he helped build the de novo compliance organization for the $4 billion revenue spin off from Cardinal Health.  He was most recently responsible for global compliance programs for both the Procedural Solutions and Medical Systems operating segments for the company.  Prior to joining CareFusion, Porter served as the global compliance lawyer for all four Smith & Nephew business units, managing complex internal and external investigations for the company.

“Wes is smart, aggressive, and has worked diligently to build teams as evidenced by his success in career progression and scope of responsibility,” noted Tom Callaway, MD, founder and president of Life Science Partner.  “He leads a team that Life Science Partner has helped recruit in partnership with Rose-Karen Swanson, Chief Compliance Officer, to transform the business as required by the Company’s 2010 Compliance Integrity Agreement.”

Porter earned his degree in History at Occidental College in Los Angeles, CA, followed by earning his Masters in Health Administration and Juris Doctorate from St. Louis University in St. Louis, MO.

About Life Science Partner

Life Science Partner’s high-quality executive, research and professional placement services target the very specific needs of life sciences and healthcare organizations. We identify and recruit the brightest talent in the biotechnology, pharmaceutical, medical device, academic and healthcare services fields.  Our combined scientific backgrounds and senior management experience give us the scientific literacy and business knowledge to help us better understand challenges, refine requirements and work more effectively with our life science clients.

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